Change:To Become Different; To Undergo Transformation

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

(1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NKJV)

In the midst of the ordinary, the beauty and mystery of God breaks through.

One day Jesus took Peter, John and James for a hike into the nearby mountains. And upon this occasion, Jesus changed before their very eyes. They were engulfed in the bright, white purity of God’s presence. Peter wanted to live there forever. Moses and Elijah broke through time. John and James were stunned into silence.

In the midst of Ordinary Time, we stop for a moment to recall the Transfiguration, which transports us to an otherworldly experience. An experience the disciples kept to themselves, until after they witnessed the cruel death and triumphant resurrection of our beloved Teacher, Friend and Savior.

Remembering that Jesus was not only flesh and blood, but also fully divine, transports me to the day, when we shall be like Him. I needed this reminder today, because it is way too easy to get anchored in the tangible. I muddle through until the long awaited vacation or hurry ahead to the next season of life. When the blessings are flowing here, I drift away from the best promise of God: eternal life.

At other times, I let the griefs of living here and now overtake me. I wonder if I will have to face more sorrow than happiness here on this earth. Sadness engulfs me, when all I can think about are the people who have already passed on and the ones who will leave me behind in the years ahead.

I cannot stay there. I must look ahead to that day, when “we all shall be changed.” We will no longer care about menus, laundry and dirty dishes. Unfinished projects and clutter will fade away. No more tearful good-byes.

On that day, I will be so caught up in the beauty and mystery of our Risen Savior and the scenes of heaven that I will want to dwell there forever, just like Peter, but this time Jesus will gladly welcome me to stay. I won’t have to return from the mountain top experience.

In the meantime, the glimpses of glory that I see in the golden profusion of wildflowers can bring a smile to my face. Or a yard sign, that seems like a text from God can remind me how much He loves me. While I was running the other day, I read this message: “God loves you. Always has. Always will.” And if I could text God back, I would say: ” I love you, too! Thanks for always loving me.” Oh, how He loves you and me eternally!

What glimpse of glory has He offered you recently?

Linking up with the Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood.

Posted on August 7, 2013November 15, 2013 by kelrohlf 6

The More and Muchness

A couple weeks ago, I mentioned my quest to learn more about the Spiritual Exercises developed by St. Ignatius, so today I wanted to share a little more.

His mission statement for himself and the Jesuits was “Ad majorem Dei gloriam” (which translated means “To the greater glory of God.”)

Another Latin word associated with his vision for followers of Christ was “magis,” which means “the more.”

St. Ignatius would ask himself, “What have I done for God? What am I doing for God? and What MORE can I do for Him?”

When I discovered the concept of “magis,” my mind turned to words in English that might come from this root, like majesty, magnificent, and magnitude. Anything more that I could do for God, would have to be in response to His majesty, magnificence and magnanimous love.

This idea of giving more to God can seem daunting and may even feel like pressure, but I am not thinking of obligation, but rather adoration, like the woman who wept and washed Jesus feet with her tears.

The more I comprehend His great love and my great need, the greater my expression of love will be.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”(Mark 12:30).

In a commentary that compares the various times this command is quoted in both the Old and New Testament, the author explains that the word for strength translates as “muchness,” which made me smile.

What does loving God with all my muchness look like? It sounds a lot like what St. Igatius was aiming at with his “Ad majorem Dei gloriam!” Or as a famous hymn writer once wrote: “To God be the glory!” Loving God with all our being brings Him such joy.

And Jesus doesn’t ask us to stop there. He asks for more. He wants us to love one another as He loves us. That’s almost too much for me, I scarce can take it in. How about you?

Posted on February 1, 2013November 15, 2013 by kelrohlf 0

Voice: Medium of Expression

The voice of one crying in the wilderness…the cry of an infant…the cry of anguish…my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Prepare ye the way of the Lord! shouts the prophets over the pages…through the years…in the voice of a multitude preparing the way in song…sing…sing a song…make it simple…to last the whole year long

Hallelujah chorus…broken hallelujahs…voices raised in acclamation and praise…shouting, hooting, hollering…raising hands…joining in on the chorus…what does

my voice add in the strains of a million other voices…expressing words wrought from synapses and snapshots of memory and experiences and teachings and lives of living example

Creating together…voices of a thousand angels…cry Holy! Holy! Holy!

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky displays what his hands have made.
One day tells a story to the next.

Psalm 19:1-2 (GOD’S WORD Translation)